More specifically, explain how something like the Second International can create democratic institutions that were in place well before it was formed?

The development of liberal democracy in Western Europe is very closely linked to the rise of the labour movement and social democratic political parties. Parliamentary institutions with limited enfranchisement existed in some countries prior to that, but the expansion of voting rights to the majority population was largely driven by labour and social democratic movements in England, Germany, etc. Same goes for a lot of other basic social rights we take for granted now - weekends, restrictions on child labour, universal public education, etc.

The North American context is a bit different though - labour and social democratic movements played a role, but didn't necessarily lead those struggles to the same extent as in Europe.

Oh, and to return to the topic at hand, Brock Lesnar is a closet-case roidtard whose fights bore me to sleep. I wish our healthcare system actually had killed him, or at least fucked up his digestive tract enough that he'd be stuck at home shitting into a colostomy bag for the rest of his life rather than once again ruining otherwise decent fight cards.

Oh, and to return to the topic at hand, Brock Lesnar is a closet-case roidtard whose fights bore me to sleep. I wish our healthcare system actually had killed him, or at least fucked up his digestive tract enough that he'd be stuck at home shitting into a colostomy bag for the rest of his life rather than once again ruining otherwise decent fight cards.

Sounds like Trollshido comments. Hard to say who "loses" the thread. These comments should be in Sheerdog or Trollshido or wherever the garbage can of the site is. The OP should be banned from posting anywhere except for Martial Arts in the News. All the political philosophy stuff should go to Sociocide. phail to an otherwise incredibly stupid thread.

The development of liberal democracy in Western Europe is very closely linked to the rise of the labour movement and social democratic political parties. Parliamentary institutions with limited enfranchisement existed in some countries prior to that, but the expansion of voting rights to the majority population was largely driven by labour and social democratic movements in England, Germany, etc.

You don't see the problem with including Germany in that list?

And expanding franchise is at least somewhat relevant to the structure democratic institutions (good luck pinning the Civil War, women's suffrage, or the Marshall plan on Marx), but everything else you've listed...

Originally Posted by DJR

Same goes for a lot of other basic social rights we take for granted now - weekends, restrictions on child labour, universal public education, etc.

... is wholly irrelevant.

Originally Posted by DJR

The North American context is a bit different though - labour and social democratic movements played a role, but didn't necessarily lead those struggles to the same extent as in Europe.

Tommy Douglas' career in federal politics was a footnote. You've got Canada in your location field - you should know better than this.

Originally Posted by DJR

Oh, and to return to the topic at hand, Brock Lesnar is a closet-case roidtard whose fights bore me to sleep. I wish our healthcare system actually had killed him, or at least fucked up his digestive tract enough that he'd be stuck at home shitting into a colostomy bag for the rest of his life rather than once again ruining otherwise decent fight cards.

Fucking brilliant, this. Yeah, let's see his career end as the undisputed titleholder rather than actually having someone take it from him.

Nope - social democrats drove democratization in Germany from the 1800s until the Nazis and conservative dupes abolished it in the 1930s.

Originally Posted by TheRuss

Tommy Douglas' career in federal politics was a footnote. You've got Canada in your location field - you should know better than this.

You live in Saskatchewan - you should know that the introduction of medicare by Douglas's CCF government provided political momentum and the institutional template for public healthcare nationally.

Originally Posted by TheRuss

Yeah, let's see his career end as the undisputed titleholder rather than actually having someone take it from him.

I honestly don't care one way or another.

Sounds like Trollshido comments. Hard to say who "loses" the thread. These comments should be in Sheerdog or Trollshido or wherever the garbage can of the site is. The OP should be banned from posting anywhere except for Martial Arts in the News. All the political philosophy stuff should go to Sociocide.

Get well soon. I just got a new set of Rock Band drums, so I don't even have an excuse.

I don't think you need an excuse for being inside on the internetz when it's minus 25 celsius or whatever the temperature is in SK right now. There's only so much Rock Band you can do in a day, and you've got to fill up the rest of the time somehow. On the west coast, we basically stop leaving the house if it gets below -5.